Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock will co-chair the second annual meeting of the Education Working Group under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership with Vice Minister of National Education Fasli Jalal July 23 in Bali, Indonesia. Assistant Secretary Stock has assumed the authorities of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and will co-chair in this capacity.

In 2010, President Barack Obama and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched the Comprehensive Partnership to elevate bilateral relations and enhance strategic consultations on key bilateral, regional, and global issues. While in Bali, Assistant Secretary Stock will highlight the United States’ commitment to people-to-people exchanges, specifically educational exchanges.

On July 22, Assistant Secretary Stock will meet with Indonesian students and faculty at Bali State Polytechnic, where she will discuss opportunities for study in the United States. Through the Comprehensive Partnership, the Department of State supports increased engagement with U.S. community colleges.

On July 23, Assistant Secretary Stock will participate in a roundtable discussion with U.S. and Indonesian student participants and alumni from the following programs: the Critical Language Scholarship Program, the Indonesia English Language Study Program, the Fulbright Program, the Community College Initiative Program, and Peace Corps volunteers. All of these programs are supported under the U.S. Indonesia Higher Education Partnership.

On Sunday, July 24, Assistant Secretary Stock will join Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Joint Commission Meeting of the U.S.-Indonesian Comprehensive Partnership, where she will report on the progress of the Education Working Group in expanding student exchanges and university partnerships.